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May 25, 2010

MIA bracelet for Illinois soldier Vietnam War - can we find a descendant?

Debbie wrote to me to ask for help. Here is her note:

In the mid 60's, during the Vietnam War, people bought copper bracelets with the name of a service person who was MIA. I have one that I got in 1966. I now know that the individual was removed from the MIA list and his name is engraved on the Vietnam Wall as KIA. I'd like to find his wife and/or children to give this bracelet. I have saved it for over 40 years in the hopes of giving it to a family member. So, how can I do this? I do know his name, his branch of service and other bits of information.

The soldier's name is Charles Peter Claxton. Here is a picture of the bracelet that Debbie sent.

I'm asking for readers' help once more to find a descendant so that Debbie can send the bracelet to them. You can post here in the comment section but if you have details on living people you might want to send them to me privately in email olivetreegenealogy@gmail.com

I found an article about Charles and the rest of the air crew that went MIA in 1967. It stated their bodies were found in 2000 although only two were identified positively.

I found on ancestry in the Vietanm War: U.S. Military Casualties datebase - Charles Peter Claxton, of Chicago, born 22 Dec 1932, died 27 Apr 1978. This soldier's tour start date is shown as Dec 29, 1967 (I cannot make out the date on the bracelet in the photo - what is that date?) He's listed as an Air Force Colonel. This listing seems to add more questions for me than answers.

From a Contemporary Press Report: AIR FORCE COL. CHARLES P. CLAXTON; DIED IN VIETNAM WAR PLANE CRASH

December 16, 2000

Late on Dec. 29, 1967, Patricia Claxton received a telephone call from an Air Force officer who told her that her husband had disappeared during a mission in North Vietnam. Thirty-three years would pass before a memorial service marked the end of her long wait for an explanation.

A military burial service was held for Col. Charles P. Claxton, 35, an Air Force pilot and Chicago native, and his 10 fellow crewmembers November 15, 2000, in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

What happened to Col. Claxton's C-130 Hercules plane after it lost radio contact wasn't learned until a 1992 investigation in a remote area uncovered the plane's wreckage and the crew's remains.

"I would say we really hoped up until 15 years ago," Patricia Claxton said from her home in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. "There was never any indication the plane had crashed or the men had been captured; we didn't know, but we just hoped we'd receive some positive information."

Col. Claxton joined the Air Force a year after graduating from Mt. Carmel High School in 1951. He graduated from Officer Candidate School in 1953.

Col. Claxton hoped to attend college with credits he earned in the Air Force, perhaps studying political science, but in August 1967, he was sent to fight in the Vietnam War.

He said goodbye to his wife and five children, whom he had just helped move to Kincheloe Air Force Base in Kinross, Mich.

His daughter Kimberly Samuelson, who was 8 when the family moved, said she remembered her father helping his children with homework, cooking breakfast on weekends and comforting her when she got an allergy shot."He was a great father," she said.

Four months after beginning his service in Vietnam, Col. Claxton joined a crew on a special mission over North Vietnam, taking off just after midnight from Nha Trang. Four hours later, crewmembers reported by radio that they were near the Lai Chau province of North Vietnam. They never returned to base.

A search was called off a month later. Then, in 1992, an investigation led by a team from the U.S. and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam found witnesses of the crash--some of whom had identification cards and tags from the crew. The wreckage and remains were recovered.

The U.S. Department of Defense concluded the low-flying C-130 had crashed into a mountainside before the crew could escape. The government spent years identifying the remains.

Mrs. Claxton said the department never determined whether the plane encountered bad weather or enemy fire.

"I remember him as a good and loving person, a very good citizen and a good husband and father," she said.

In addition to his wife and daughter, Col. Claxton is survived by another daughter, Cheryl Cardamoni; three sons, John, Joseph and James; and seven grandchildren.

This should offer us a few clues, from the jan 25 1973 Sault ste marie newspaper:

Kincheloe Family WaitsNews Of Missing Father

The next 60 days are boundto be among the most tryingin their lives for the Claxtonfamily at Kincheloe Air ForceBase as they await word about•whether Lt. Col. Charles Claxtonis a prisoner of war in Vietnam.Colonel Claxton has been listedas missing in action in Vietnamsince Dec. 29, 1967, over fiveyears ago.His wife, Pat, who is a SaultSte. Marie native, has heardnothing since of his fate. Sheand their five children havebeen living at Kincheloe sinceClaxton went overseas in 1967.She was notified that herhusband, who was a pilot ona cargo plane out of Nha TrangAir Base in South Vietnam, wasmissing after he lost radiocontact when over North Vietnamaround 118 miles northwestof Hanoi.Despite all efforts of themilitary authorities and allinquiries that Mrs. Claxton hasmade, there has been absolutelyno word sinct about the colonel.Mrs. Claxton was allowed towrite one letter a month andsend occasional packages toVietnam but these have neverb e e n answered or evenacknowledged so she has no wayof knowing if he is alive or dead.As Pat Bonacci, daughter ofMrs. Joseph Bonacci, shegraduated from Sault Area highschool and met Claxton whenhe was a second lieutenant atKincheloe. They were latermarried in St. Joseph's Churchin 1956, but she returned to liveat Kincheloe near her familywhen he was sent overseas in1967. Claxton's parents wereliving in Pomona, Calif.There are five Claxtonchildren in school in theRudyard schools, Cheryl, John,Kim, Joey and Jim.Mrs. Claxton said she hasheard nothing new since announcementthat the prisonerswi!l be released and the fateof the missing in action announcedand that she does notexpect to hear anything for some time.

Your article lists him as of Chicago, Illinois so I don't know if it is the same person but a Charles Peter Claxton and wife Patricia xxx had three children born in Texas. Possibly he was a career service man and stationed at Fort Hood or some base there. The children listed are John Charles Claxton, Kimberly Ann Claxton and Joseph Patrick Claxton

[DELETED INFO ON ADDRESSES & BIRTHDATES AND LOCATIONS]

If we can prove this is the correct Charles Peter Claxton, we might be able to locate one of the children.

I did locate an email for the daughter Cheryl. I sent a detailed message explaining what I have, how long I've had it and how I wanted the family to have it. The email did not bounce but I have had no response.

Since that time, I've had someone contact me who is friends with someone who is friends with Claxton's wife, Pat. For some reason, I was asked to send the bracelet to Pat's friend who would in turn give it to her. And I deeply appreciate the effort by this individual to help me locate the wife of the missing airman. But, due to my personal attachment to the bracelet (I graduated from high school in 1969, wasn't a protester, etc.) I'd like to send it to his wife directly with no middle person involved. I don't want to dredge up hurtful memories, upset any family member or have someone think I'm a nut case tracking people down. I just want his wife to have it, along with a letter from me telling why I saved it for all these years. I can't thank you all enough for the time, effort and research helping me with this. I hope everyone understands that this is a personal quest, an emotional attachment and I want to be certain of who receives the bracelet. I didn't hold on to it for 42 years to let go with reservation.

I just read an article today in the LA Times about people who wore POW bracelets. I immediately flashed on my own experience. I was in junior high when I got my bracelet and was sooo proud to wear it, I never took it off! One summer about two years later I was water-skiing at Lake Arrowhead, CA and the rope hooked under the opening of my bracelet as I was being pulled to a start. As the slack was taken out of the rope, I stood and my bracelet was torn off my wrist and flew into the lake. I screamed, "My bracelet!" and let go of the rope thinking I could find it. Of course it sank to the bottom of the lake and I was heartbroken and in tears. Now, almost 40 years later I have gone online and found all this information about my "guy". I didn't know that there were others who also might have had the same name/bracelet I did until I read the article in the paper. Then I stumbled upon this blog in my research. I have NEVER forgotten his name or date... Major Charles P. Claxton 12/29/67 may he rest in peace. God bless his family, I thank you for his service and your sacrifice.

Hello, my name is Kimberly (Claxton) Samuelson and this is my father. My mom, sister and brothers are all currently living in Michigan. My dad was originally from Illinois and was career Air Force. Thank you all so much for caring about my dad and family.

Hello,my name is Janet and I,too, have a silver bracelet for Charles.I was in college when I bought it and also have treasured this piece of history,wondering who Charles was and if they ever found him.When they brought the replica of the Wall in Washington DC to Long Island N.Y.,I prayed that I wouldn't find his name on there- but sadly the person working there led me to his name and I cried even after all these years.This Sunday,Jan.2 I will remember your father at church and light a candle for him,Kimberly, in celebration of his life.God bless you all! Janet

My name is Char and I to had the POW/MIA bracelet for Major Charles P. Claxton. I never took it off until Sept. 23, 1990 when I went to visit the traveling Wall in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As my niece and I approached the Wall we decided to look at it for awhile before asking for the location of his name (32E 7th row from bottom). The most strange but wonderful feeling came over me when the first name that I saw was for him. With tears running down my cheeks I finally took of my bracelet and left it at the Wall. I still think of him and the sacrifice he and his family gave us so we could have our freedom. God bless him and all those who fought for us.

I too wore a POW/MIA bracelet bearing the name of Maj. Charles P Claxton. Although I was a pre-teen, I wore it proudly and daydreamed about him, wondering if he was ever found. I never imagined at the time that so many others would share his name with me, and unknowingly share concern for his well-being. So nice to make this connection. His family must be so proud of him.

I also wore a bracelet bearing Major Claxton's name. I was in elementary school, and prayed every night for his safe return. I have thought of him many times in the past forty years. Blessings to his family.

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